'Shifting Baseline Syndrome'

[User00056]

Apparently, this is the human adaptability of perceiving what's 'normal'. It basically means that we adjust to ever-increasing changes and adapt to a constantly-changing sense of normal.

Usually applied to ecological change, I reckon it can be applied to most of society just as equally though, these days.

We live in strange times

 

[Buchan]

Really important concept for ecology. Fish stocks being a great example, even with reported recoveries, they are way off what they should be.

 

[Roebuck9]

Really important concept for ecology. Fish stocks being a great example, even with reported recoveries, they are way off what they should be.

The Scotish deer would not agree to that scenario though.

 

[VSS]

It's like living with pain, 24/7
It becomes the new normal, and you learn to continue to function as if nothing is wrong.
If anyone else were to wake up in the morning in that much pain they'd be calling in sick and heading off to hospital.

It's not much fun, actually

 

[Klenchblaize]

The Op can pick up his bonus.

K

 

[Mr. Gain]

There's a similar concept termed "the normalisation of deviance". Every time the rot isn't stopped, it becomes harder to call out.

 

[User00056]

It's like living with pain, 24/7
It becomes the new normal, and you learn to continue to function as if nothing is wrong.
If anyone else were to wake up in the morning in that much pain they'd be calling in sick and heading off to hospital.

It's not much fun, actually

I hear that! Knackered knees, and some sort of back issue makes Ibuprofen a staple of my diet

And to top it all, I knackered my AC joint earlier today trying to loosen seized bolts. Tomorrow will be yet another new normal

 

[VSS]

I hear that! Knackered knees, and some sort of back issue makes Ibuprofen a staple of my diet

And to top it all, I knackered my AC joint earlier today trying to loosen seized bolts. Tomorrow will be yet another new normal

If only it were that simple

 

[Reloader708]

Interesting post and one ive spoken about before, perhaps if we took our grandparents on a ramble through our favourite forests and fields they'd be asking where all the wildlife was??
I remember being told that if we'd looked out of a window in the 1960s and seen 100 of anything passing by, ducks in this example, looking through that same window today, you'll only count 30 ducks. And wed be telling everyone wed seen alot of ducks that morning.
The baseline has indeed shifted.
Note; I cant confirm anything from the 60s myself being a much more recent model.

 

[John Gryphon]

Is that like living in pain with a coke bottle up your a*se thats been there long enough to be opalised and you rather putting up with the pain than the embarrassment of seeing a Doctor?

 

[Malxwal]

Is that like living in pain with a coke bottle up your a*se thats been there long enough to be opalised and you rather putting up with the pain than the embarrassment of seeing a Doctor?

What are you trying to tell us John.

 

[John Gryphon]

What are you trying to tell us John.

Its still there,just grit ya teef and get on wif it

 

[User00056]

Its still there,just grit ya teef and get on wif it

Just try not to clench

 

[spanj]

Is that like living in pain with a coke bottle up your a*se thats been there long enough to be opalised and you rather putting up with the pain than the embarrassment of seeing a Doctor?

Voice of experience John ?

 

[tackb]

it's amazing what we can used to

 

[Smellydog]

it's amazing what we can used to

Except poofters!
Never normal that...

 

[John Gryphon]

Except poofters!
Never normal that...

I havent been to jail but they say 'it only hurts the first time' haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[Cootmeurer]

Interesting post and one ive spoken about before, perhaps if we took our grandparents on a ramble through our favourite forests and fields they'd be asking where all the wildlife was??
I remember being told that if we'd looked out of a window in the 1960s and seen 100 of anything passing by, ducks in this example, looking through that same window today, you'll only count 30 ducks. And wed be telling everyone wed seen alot of ducks that morning.
The baseline has indeed shifted.
Note; I cant confirm anything from the 60s myself being a much more recent model.

I think we perceive the things lost quite differently from the things gained - and lack balance.

Case in point. As a youngster (45 years ago) we used to travel out of state for deer, as the local deer population was very small. Our gun season was 3 days long with 1 deer allowed. Now, it’s as long as a month and often up to 8 tags available

Could say the same about canids. As a youth if we trapped a coyote it was in the local paper, yet even young knuckleheads could trap a dozen fox. Now it’s reversed - some areas a fox is hard to find and coyotes are everywhere.

We currently have had our first bobcat season, an animal absent for many years, and bears are appearing more and more frequently

Don’t even get me started on waterfowl - some species declining or shifting range while others expand and move into new areas

 

[scotch_egg]

If only it were that simple

Chronic regional pain syndrome at a guess. Something akin to an autoimmune response sometimes for no reason at all and also following trauma. Skin discolouration, hair and nail problems in affected areas due to blood flow change. Flairs for not apparent reason and feels like you’ve been hit with a car again in my case.

There are multiple other causes ME/CFS/Fibromyalgia my partner is a health psychologist in this area. Very complex conditions not understood by many doctors.

 

[VSS]

Chronic regional pain syndrome at a guess. Something akin to an autoimmune response sometimes for no reason at all and also following trauma. Skin discolouration, hair and nail problems in affected areas due to blood flow change. Flairs for not apparent reason and feels like you’ve been hit with a car again in my case.

There are multiple other causes ME/CFS/Fibromyalgia my partner is a health psychologist in this area. Very complex conditions not understood by many doctors.

No, not Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome.
I have had debilitating degenerative autoimmune condition for around 8 years now.
It's a bastard of a thing.
Life goes on, but with a new shifting baseline of normal.
Hence the pertinence to this thread.
(Today I managed to get dressed unaided, therefore today is a "good" day for me, but it might not feel so good to someone who didn't have the same baseline as me).